what is the best way to start conversation with a stranger?

Answer 1

A sincere question or statement. Share something you think or feel.

Answer 2

There are many ways, but one that seems to work well is to ask them about something they have in their possession, or ask them a question about some shared activity.

For example, if you are both on a bus or train, you can ask, "Are you going home?" No matter what the person's response is, you can often find out more about their home, family, etc. as a result of this question.

Or, if you notice that the person has some interesting possession, say, an iPod, you can say, "I don't know too much about those iPods. Could you give me some advice in case I buy one?"

Answer 3

Smile when you say hello. Talk with them, not to them. Focus your conversation on discovering their interests and making them feel comfortable in your presence. They will want to know more about you in due time. Be sincere. Half truths and outright lies are betrayed by your own body language. Try to read the other person's body language for clues to their inner feelings. Use humor but avoid condescension, degradation of others or crass comments, they reflect badly on you. Also avoid discussing politics, religion and sexual topics. They only serve to make people uncomfortable and can cause conflict due to the emphasis on differences instead of similarities. Most importantly of all be respectful, speak to the other person as you would want to be spoken to.
By following this advise you will open up a wonderful world of people from all walks of life and every part of the globe! Many of them will be left with good feelings of you, some may become your friends and you will never know when you'll meet that special person who'll be the love of your life, all through the power of conversation.

Answer 4

Base what you say on something about the situation you're both in.

Either ask a question about something, wait for the answer, and then add comments as a follow-up. For example: You and the stranger are at a bus station. You ask what time the bus to bla-bla is expected. He answers. You then comment, "I haven't been here since they added the coffee shop. That's kind of good they added that because before you had to go all the way to bla-bla to get something to eat." The stranger says something, you take it from there.

Or else, just make a comment about the situation. For example: "I was really glad to see they put that coffee shop in. Of course, now there's also that new pizza place right around the block. Have you had their pizza?" The stranger replies. Maybe you switch to a less-food-minded subject from there.

If you start with whatever is around in the situation - the cold, the heat, the wait, the line, the headline on the newspapers in the box, the candy machine that doesn't work, whether the plants in the planter require a lot of care, etc.; you can then usually take it one step out away from the immediate situation. For example: "I love that fern. I wonder how often they have to have someone come feed it." Whatever the other person says it doesn't matter. You take it a step away from the situation by saying, "I'm horrible with plants. As soon as I bring them home its just a matter of time before they're watered to death." (This moves it out and away from the fern and onto you and your lack of gardening skill. This will usually make the person add something about his/her own gardening skills.) This is the beginning of the real conversation. You can then move it out beyond (for example) the gardening issue and add that your mother, who lives in Florida, has the most beautiful garden.

This gives the stranger the chance to pick up on Florida or your mother or beautiful gardens. If he/she picks up on Florida ("Where in Florida does your mother live? My sister lives in Miami.") you can say where your mother lives, but you can now expand on out to something like, "I don't get to see her too often. It was easier when I lived in Georgia." Now, you've expanded out to Georgia - yet another place to discuss. You can also expand to something like, "I only get to visit her at Christmas. Last Christmas my flight was delayed for 16 hours...". Now you will have introduced visiting people for holidays and flight delays.

In other words, just try to add as many elements to your remarks as you can think of in order to give the stranger something to pick up on. Keep your remarks honest. If you've noticed something funny about the situation you share comment on that. Laughing together usually gets a conversation going at least a little.

Answer 5

You have to find just the right moment to start it up, like if they drop something, pick it up for them, say hi, and make a comment about what it was they dropped. Or, if they are alone in the corner reading, walk up to them, give a friendly hello, and ask them what they are reading. The possibilities are endless! You just have to look for the right time. So, there you are~go meet people and be creative!

Answer 6

This might not be a good one but it impressed me. My friend had a pair of super soft velvet like pants. He would walk up and sit at the bar with a woman and introduce himself, within a couple of minutes he would take her hand and say "feel my pants arent they soft" and women would fall for it, they would sit their rubbing his pants while they have a conversation......he had this thing where he liked to just tease them despite their interest.... and i think this made him more desireable......the way i do it is ......be a little antagonistic to them...make fun of them in some way, but tell them they are beautiful...that is the best i know......

Answer 7

Ask them a question about themselves. People love to talk about themselves. Say something like, "where do you live?" It should spark up a conversation quiet nicely.

Answer 8

My mom always warned me never to talk to strangers,lol.

Answer 9

Hi...or just smile with him/her...and as the days go by..say hi..and just comment on the weather or..ask abt his/her opinion abt smthin

Answer 10

a compliment is always a good start nothing too cheesy though...